Having sex with partners who have hepatitis C or other sexually transmitted diseases

Symptoms

Symptoms may not be present or be too minor to notice. People with symptoms may have any of the following:

Fatigue

Loss of appetite

Yellowing of the eyes and skin

Darker colored urine

Loose stools and light or chalky colored stools

Abdominal pain

Aches and pains

Itching

Rash

Joint pain

Sudden dislike for the taste of cigarettes in cigarette smokers

Nausea

Vomiting

Long term (chronic) hepatitis C may also cause:

Weakness

Severe fatigue

Loss of appetite

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and past health issues. A physical exam will be done. Your doctor may suspect hepatitis based on your risk factors. Blood tests will be done to confirm hepatitis by looking for:

Signs of the virus

Antibodies—signs that the immune system is fighting an infection; may not be present early in the infection

Changes in liver function

Other tests may be done to rule out other liver conditions.

Treatment

In some people, the infection may go away on its own. It is important to follow up with the doctor to make sure the infection has cleared.

If the infection does not pass, the goal of treatment is to:

Prevent further liver damage

Stop drinking alcohol. Talk to your doctor if you have problems with alcohol. Your doctor can refer you to counseling or a treatment program.

Quit smoking. There are several tools to help you
quit smoking. Talk to your doctor about methods that are safe for you.

Avoid certain medicine. For example, acetaminophen can be harmful to the liver. Talk to your doctor about any medicine or supplements you are taking.

Cure the infection—antiviral medicine will help the body fight and clear the virus.

To prevent spreading hepatitis C to others:

Let your dentist and doctors know you have hepatitis C before check-ups or treatment.

Do not donate blood or organs for transplant.

Prevention

If you were born between 1945 and 1965, you should get tested for hepatitis C infection.

To prevent a hepatitis C infection:

Do not inject illegal drugs. If you do, do not share needles. Seek help to
stop using drugs.

Do not have sex with partners who have sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus among HIV-infected men who have sex with men—New York City, 2005-2010. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2011;60(28):945-950.

What I need to know about hepatitis C. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Available at: http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-topics/liver-disease/hepatitis-c/Pages/ez.aspx. Updated May 2017. Accessed August 21, 2017.

10/8/2014 DynaMed Plus Systematic Literature Surveillancehttp://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T115157/Hepatitis-C: British Association of Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) recommendations on testing for sexually transmitted infections in men who have sex with men. Available at: http://www.bashh.org/documents/BASHH%20Recommendations%20for%20testing%20for%20STIs%20in%20MSM%20-%20FINAL.pdf. Accessed October 8, 2015.

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

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